Prescott is a real cowboy town filled with true stories of gunslingers, gamblers, lawmen, and outlaws. The town celebrates and embraces its past everything from the bullet holes, the hauntings, the brothels and its most famous bar that survived the Whiskey Row fire.

The Palace is the oldest saloon in the state, opening in 1877. It was a favorite spot for some of Arizona’s most famous residents like Doc Holiday and Wyatt and Virgil Earp who were always ready to drink or gamble. On July 14, 1900 the town of Prescott was ablaze burning down five blocks of the downtown area. Saloons, banks, and other buildings were all destroyed in the fire, and yet a precious part of the town’s most frequented watering hole was carried to safety.

As the fire raged around them, the loyal patrons of the Palace saloon carried the “Brunswick bar” out the door where they had an ox help drag it across the street. Word on the street is that they didn’t miss a beat and the bartenders just kept serving.

Nearly 150 years later, the Palace is still here on famed Whiskey row rich in history and spirit.
More recently, the community rallied around another popular watering hole. In 2012, flames gutted the Bird Cage saloon. Like a Phoenix, the Bird Cage rose from the ashes and with the help of Prescott residents, the owner was able to rebuild and reopen down the street. Again, another example of this town’s fortitude and loyalty.

Politics also plays a big part in Prescott’s history. Prescott was designated Arizona’s first territorial Capital in 1864. There was no town here when President Lincoln wanted to make Prescott the territorial capital, but because gold and silver was found in Prescott, he wanted to keep it in Union hands. Prescott was the only state or territory that was created where there was no town.

Prescott has yet another distinction. It is Arizona’s official “Christmas City.” The annual lighting of courthouse square and the Christmas parade is your front row seat to small town charm and tradition.
Let us not forget that Prescott is home to the World’s Oldest Rodeo started back in 1888.

Tens of thousands of fans from all over the world come out every year to celebrate the weeklong festivities of Prescott Frontier Days. Rodeo fans cheer on the best of the best from steer wrestling to bareback riding, roping to barrel racing to bronco and bull riding.

The World’s Oldest Rodeo isn’t just a professional sporting event, it’s a production. Think Super Bowl Sunday, times eight. That’s how many times these athletes and acts perform here. Even cowgirls are getting their due. More women are playing a bigger part of the rodeo culture as Prescott paves the way for women in the sport of breakaway roping which they added in 2021.

The city of Prescott is full of color with statues across the city commemorating and celebrating its cowboy culture of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. One thing is for sure, here in Prescott, you will find history, heritage, and hometown pride in the heart of Arizona.